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Pilots Say What?

Thrust Flight

The ultimate podcast for aviation! Join us as we dive into the world of aviation, with each episode featuring candid conversations with real students and pilots from Thrust Flight! From sharing invaluable advice to recounting thrilling tales from their journeys in the sky, our guests offer unique perspectives on the challenges of becoming or being a pilot!

If you're interested in becoming a pilot, visit our website: Thrustflight.com! We will get you there!

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YouTube: @ThrustFlight

Instagram: @ThrustFlight

TikTok: @ThrustFlight

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30 episodes
weekly
Avg 52 min
English

Episodes 30

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S1 · E134
Friday · 52 min
Ep. 134: What Happens After Flight School? Your First Job as a Pilot
What really changes when you go from student pilot to certified flight instructor (CFI)? Ian returns to Pilots Say What? to share his experience becoming a flight instructor at Thrust Flight and why teaching someone to fly is a completely different challenge from learning to fly yourself.
S1 · E133
October 23 · 1 hr 17 min
Ep. 133: From Thrust Flight Student to Airline Captain: You Can Do It Too
What does it actually take to go from flight school student to airline captain? Tanner shares his journey from starting flight training at Thrust Flight to becoming a professional airline pilot, including the challenges of earning his ratings, building flight hours, joining an airline cadet program, and transitioning from a CFI to flying commercial jets.
S1 · E132
October 16 · 1 hr 4 min
Ep. 132: Why Pilots Are Afraid to Talk About Mental Health
Can pilots go to therapy without risking their FAA medical certificate? Mental health in aviation has been a difficult topic for years, and many pilots still hesitate to seek help. In Episode 132 of Pilots Say What?, Zach sits down with Dr. Abigail Powell, also known as The Aviation Therapist, to discuss mental health in aviation, FAA medical concerns, checkride anxiety, and the psychological challenges of becoming a professional pilot.
S1 · E131
October 9 · 50 min
Ep. 131: I Used to Be Terrified of Flying… Now I’m a Pilot
Can someone who's afraid of flying actually become a pilot? In this episode of Pilots Say What?, Zach sits down with Thrust Flight student Troy Kirk to talk about his unexpected journey into aviation. After pursuing hockey and graduating from Purdue University, Troy decided to follow a completely different career path.
S1 · E130
October 2 · 53 min
Ep. 130: Why Airline Pilots Should Learn Aerobatics
In this episode of Pilots Say What?, we sit down with aerobatic national champion and Thrust Flight aerobatic instructor Kurt Richmond to talk about what aerobatic flying can actually teach a pilot.
S1 · E129
September 25 · 42 min
Ep. 129: The Hardest Part of Becoming a Flight Instructor Isn’t Flying
Becoming a CFI requires a completely different mindset than being a flight student. In this episode, we sit down with a Thrust Flight student who recently completed her CFI training to talk about learning to fly from the right seat, preparing for the CFI checkride, and making the transition from student to instructor.
S1 · E128
September 18 · 40 min
Ep. 128: I Put College on Hold to Finish Flight Training Faster
Landon Haynes started flight training part-time while finishing high school and beginning college. After spending about nine months earning his Private Pilot License, he realized he wanted to take aviation seriously and move through his ratings faster.
S1 · E127
September 11 · 59 min
Ep. 127: Should I Have Started Flight Training Sooner?
In this episode of Pilots Say What?, Ashley and Cheyenne look back on their paths into aviation and talk about why they didn’t start flying sooner. From college degrees and working as a flight attendant to finally taking the leap into flight training, they share why starting later may have actually helped them succeed.
S1 · E126
September 4 · 51 min
Ep. 126: How to Use VA Benefits for Flight Training
Can you use VA benefits for flight training? In this episode of Pilots Say What?, we sit down with Thrust Flight’s Tracy Copeland to break down how veterans may be able to use their benefits toward flight training.
S1 · E125
August 28 · 44 min
Ep. 125: Part 61 Flight Training Wasn’t Working for Me
Between aircraft availability, maintenance cancellations, instructor availability, finances, and inconsistent flying, nearly a year went by without earning his Private Pilot Certificate. In this episode of Pilots Say What?, Amin talks about why he eventually switched to Part 141 flight training, what changed once he had a structured training environment, and why he wishes he had made the move sooner.
S1 · E124
August 21 · 1 hr 1 min
Ep. 124: What It’s Like Falling Behind in Flight School
Falling behind in flight school can make you question whether you’re cut out for it at all. In this episode of Pilots Say What, Matthew talks about struggling through private pilot training, failing stage checks, watching classmates move ahead, and learning how to stop comparing his progress to everyone else.
S1 · E123
August 14 · 40 min
Ep. 123: What Being a New CFI Is Actually Like
Zach sits down with new Thrust Flight CFI Guy Bassett to talk about what actually changes when you go from being the student to being the instructor. Guy shares what surprised him most about teaching, the added responsibility of being the safety net in the airplane, how he manages different students, and what he’s learning during his first few weeks as a CFI. They also get into instrument training, multi-engine flying, and what it takes to keep improving after earning your instructor certificates.
S1 · E122
August 7 · 49 min
Ep. 122: Why He Quit Apple to Become a Pilot
Caleb went from working at Apple to completely changing careers and becoming a flight instructor at Thrust Flight. In this episode of Pilots Say What, Caleb talks about what pushed him toward aviation, completing his flight training in 13 months, getting hired as a CFI, and the challenges that come with accelerated flight training. He also shares advice on staying motivated, avoiding comparisons with other students, instrument training, paying for flight school, and what it really takes to work toward an airline career.
S1 · E121
July 31 · 1 hr 4 min
Ep. 121: How a Thrust Flight CFI Became an Airline Captain
Lan returned to aviation after spending 13 years away from flying, completed his CFI training at Thrust Flight, and later became a flight instructor at the school. Today, he is flying for SkyWest Airlines and making the transition from first officer to captain. In this episode, Lan shares what it takes to go from instructing in a Piper Archer to flying a regional jet, how he overcame checkride and airline training failures, and why community is so important throughout flight training. He also explains what future airline pilots should expect when moving from student to CFI, first officer, and eventually captain.
S1 · E120
July 24 · 1 hr 1 min
Ep. 120: The Flight Student Everyone Wanted on the Podcast
Brock went from working 90-hour weeks as a band director to completing his professional pilot training in roughly nine months. Along the way, he became the student other Thrust Flight students turned to for tutoring, encouragement, and help understanding difficult aviation concepts.
S1 · E119
July 17 · 44 min
Ep. 119: How a Childhood Love of Aviation Became a Lifelong Career
Melanie Hill joins us from Australia to discuss how Air Cadets helped launch her lifelong aviation journey, the wide range of careers available throughout the industry, and why exposing young people to aviation matters. She also shares how her experience inspired her middle-grade aviation novel, Jett Cooper, and what parents can do when their child begins showing an interest in flight.
S1 · E118
July 10 · 34 min
Ep 118: What Your Flight Instructor Wants You To Know
In this episode of Pilots Say What?, Halley Bowers is back, this time, we’re going beyond her story and getting into practical flight training advice from her first few months as a CFI. Halley shares what she has learned from teaching instrument and commercial students, why backseating can be one of the most underrated tools in flight training, how students can handle critiques without losing confidence, and what CFIs are really watching as students progress through their ratings.
S1 · E117
July 2 · 45 min
Ep. 117: What Future Airline Pilots Should Do Long Before 1,500 Hours
Julie Cable recently joined Thrust Flight as our Career Services Liaison, helping students and CFIs better understand what comes after flight training. In this episode of Pilots Say What?, Julie shares her experience from Delta, American Airlines, and airline hiring to explain what future airline pilots should be thinking about long before they hit 1,500 hours.
S1 · E116
June 26 · 45 min
Ep. 116: Why Mesa AZ Is Built for Flight Training
In this episode of Pilots Say What?, Zach sits down with Andrew Sowers at Thrust Flight’s Mesa location on Falcon Field Airport to talk about training in Arizona, the advantages of flying in the Phoenix area, and what it’s like going through an accelerated Zero Time to Airline program. Andrew shares why Arizona’s weather, terrain, and flying environment make Mesa such a unique place to train.
S1 · E115
June 19 · 53 min
Ep 115: President-Nominated NTSB Member Reveals What Pilots Learn From Crashes
In this episode of Pilots Say What?, we sit down with John Duluth, a board member at the National Transportation Safety Board, retired American Airlines pilot, former 787 captain, and former Air Force C-130 pilot. John explains what the NTSB really does, how it differs from the FAA, and why accident reports can be one of the most valuable learning tools for student pilots, CFIs, airline pilots, mechanics, and anyone pursuing a career in aviation.

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